If carried out properly, the single biggest advantage of viral Internet marketing is this – your website will get lots of publicity and exposure very quickly.
By being smart, creative, imaginative and using simple ingenuity as well as offering some incentives such as prizes and promotions you have the opportunity to promote your website on a huge scale.
Most businesses are waking up to just how effective viral Internet marketing can be.
By turning the other cheek and ignoring these forms of marketing, your website will become just another static online brochure for your company, viewed only by your existing customers and close friends.
By promoting your site using viral marketing and combining this with social media, email and search engine marketing, you can have huge success.
Viral marketing is a clever way of promoting your website as you are effectively getting your audience to do all the work for you, but for this to be successful you will need a fantastic idea or great incentive.
Some examples include:
- A quirky viral video promotion that people will remember and share with friends
- Free e-books, great discounts or vouchers
- Addictive games or apps which can be downloaded for free
There are many other ways of using viral marketing. The main thing is to create a big buzz around what you are doing. Many high-profile movies tend to be promoted with some form of gossip just before the release date to create the ‘buzz’ and gain interest.
Many companies small and large have had big success using viral marketing campaigns.
Below are just a few well-known examples:
Microsoft Hotmail’s sign-up email signature
Microsoft’s Hotmail is a classic example. They were the first known big company to utilise the scheme and it worked wonders for them. In just one year Hotmail had a user base of nearly 12 million. The main reason they grew so quickly was because they were one of the first companies to provide free email to the population.
They used a very simple tactic of adding an email signature at the end of emails asking people to sign up for the free service – a very simple but successful tactic as they didn’t need huge banner advertising or expensive TV commercials.
This worked well because as soon as a few users had signed up, they passed on the message virally.
The Dark Knight’s “Why So Serious”
The “Why so serious?” campaign, a huge viral marketing success was launched by 42 Entertainment for the film The Dark Knight. Prior to the release of the film they took viral marketing to new levels by using real-world events, web pages, video games, social media and email. This campaign resulted in over 10 million participants in 75 countries and the film grossed $67.1 million on its opening day, earning it the highest-grossing film world record for an opening day.
Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like”
Old Spice redefined its image with a quirky, humorous video campaign targeting both men and women. Featuring over-the-top yet memorable scenes, the campaign leveraged social media heavily, including personalised video responses to fans, resulting in over 105 million YouTube views and a dramatic spike in sales.
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
What started as a fun way to raise awareness for ALS turned into a global phenomenon. Participants poured buckets of ice water over themselves, nominated others to do the same, and encouraged donations to the ALS Association. The campaign raised over $115 million in donations and demonstrated the power of social media-driven philanthropy.
Airbnb’s “We Are Here”
Airbnb captured hearts with their visually stunning campaign that showed authentic guest experiences and unique stays around the world. Using real photos and videos from Airbnb users, the brand highlighted the diversity and personal touch of their offerings, inspiring countless social shares and bookings.
Conclusion
Viral Internet marketing isn’t just a trend—it’s a powerful strategy that can catapult your business or brand into the spotlight when done creatively and strategically.
The five examples above show that with ingenuity, emotional resonance, and a deep understanding of your audience, you can create campaigns that not only generate buzz but also build lasting connections with your audience.
By combining the best elements of creativity, social sharing, and incentives, viral internet marketing has the potential to transform your website from a static online presence into a dynamic platform that attracts new audiences and retains loyal followers.
Ready to start your own viral internet marketing journey? Take inspiration from these examples and remember: the key is to spark a conversation that people can’t resist joining. Whether through humour, emotion, or innovative thinking, your campaign could be the next big success story.
What are your thoughts on viral Internet marketing? Does it work for business? Do you have an example to share? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below or across any of our social media profiles.
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